Massage device



Nov. 2, 1937. L FlsHER 2,097,455

4 MA$SAGE DEVICE Original Filed Sept. 9, 19:55

FII-: i ...1 5 4 INYENTOR. l @0f/afd 5.6/76/- ATTORNEY.

Patented Nov. 2, 1937y UNITED STATES- PATENT oFFIcE Appueaaen september s, 1935, seem No. 39,112 Renewed January 21, 1937 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a therapeutic device, particularly one in which the application of heat and vibration is combined.

Devices intendedfor the same use as the device or the present invention have heretoiore been known and the' U. S. patent to Freemon No. 1,844,247 of February 9. 1932 shows such a device. However, the Freemon device, which characterizes the prior art, was therapeutically rela- 1. tively ineffective as compared to the device of the present invention because the intensity of heat was neither oi suillcient degree nor correctly applied. In fact, the Freemon device was so inefficient that the major portion of theheat went 1| into the device itself rather than made available to the patient, thus making the device uncomi'ortable as well for an operator to handle.

I have discovered that an electric vibratory heat device can be constructed in which the heating element ls arranged in conjunctionwith a spherical reflector in such a manner that an intense heat can be made available for application to a patient undergoing massage. It is an object of the present invention to improve upon the construction o! electric vibratory and heating devices to the end that the therapeutic treatment can be made more eilective, mechanical massage being made available with the accompanyment of an intense and localized heat. It has been my observation that the heating units in such a device as that in the aforementioned Freemon patent have a relatively short life. In accordance with this invention I have provided an electric vibratory and heating apparatus in which the heating unit is readily replaceable by another unit so that repair is a simple matter. A a

A further object oi' the present invention is to provide an electric heat vibratory apparatus in which the construction employed is relatively simple so that manufacturing is facilitated and so the device can be sold to the purchasing public cheaply.

The invention includes other objects and features of advantage, some of which, together with 'the` foregoing, will appear hereinafter wherein I have set forth and disclosed the preferred form of electric heat apparatus oi' my invention. In the drawing accompanying and lforming-apart hereof -Figure 1 is a side view, partly in section to illustrate the construction of the preferred form. y Figure'2 is a partial end view.. Figures 3 and 4 are sections respectively taken on the lines 3-3 and 4-4 in Figure 1.

(Cl. 12B-24.2)

Figure 5 is a section taken along the line 5--5 showing construction of the electro magnet employed.

Figure 6 is a view taken along the line 8--6 to show the construction of the electro magnet and 5 the vibrating structure employed therewith.

In constructing the device I provide a housing made up of two parts II and I2 and secured together by a handle Il. 'I'he separate parts II and I2 each include an extension I4 having a 10 screw thread thereon received by the handle. Parts II and I2 cooperate to provide an axially extending chamber in which is positioned an electro magnetic vibrating structure generally indicated by I6 and the massage and heating unit 15 generally indicated by I1. The electro magnet vibrating structure is secured in place by a hollow screw I9 extended through transverse wall I9 in member II to engage and retain the magnetic core against the wall I9. A closure member 20 2| carries the screw I8. The ycore of the electro magnet is made up of a plurality of suitable soft iron pieces and is formed so as to have three pole pieces, two outside poles 22 and central pole 23. A coil 24 is wound upon central pole and is adapted to be energized, usually by a low voltage alternating current.

To provide the vibratory structure I extend a spring strip 26 across the exterior poles 22 and then secure caps 21 in place by means of pins 28 so that the strip 26 is loosely mounted across the poles. Strip 26 is usually made of a piece of high silicon steel. Attached to this strip is a button 29, the button being usually riveted onto the strip. This button is usually of soft iron to 35 provide mass inthe vibrating structure. Disc 3i is attached as by screws 32 to the button and from this disc extends three pins 33., the pins 33 being connected to wires 34 for reasons which will appear hereinafter.

It is to be noted that the foregoing described Vibrating structure extends axially in the housing provided by parts II and I2 and is easilyaccessible for inspection or repair. To cooperate with said vibrating means I provide a massage 45 means for contact with the skin of a patient in conjunction with suitable heating means. As the actual contact element I provide an annulus 4I made`of the same material as the housing. 'I'his annulus is grooved as at 42 so that it can ,50 be held in place readily upon the skin of a patient. A shoulder 43 is formed upon the annuyfir() lus and against the shoulder rests a reflector 441 I prefer that the reilector be parabolic in shape or otherwise arcuately formed so that it delivers 55 a maximum amount of radiated heat at a point corresponding to the exterior face of annulus 4I, thus delivering to the skin of the patient a maximum of radiated heat.

To supply heat for radiation by the reector 44 I mount a heating unit 46 upon the reector, the heating unit being substantially at what would correspond to the focal point of the reector except that the heat source cannot be a mere point source. The heating unit 46 is preferably of a bare resistance wire so that luminous heat for radiation is given off. In practice, the unit includes two separately energizable coils 45 and 45A.

The reflector and heating unit are secured to an insulating backing member 41, the backing member being in turn secured by a metal strip 48 and screws 49 to the `annulus 4|. Receptacles 5I are provided in the backing member and electrical connectionsextend from these to the heating unit 46 so that two different degrees oi' heat can be secured, as will hereinafter appear, by connection of the receptacles with the pins.

To prevent entrance of foreign matter between the unit I1 and the housing proper and to center the `unit I1 a collar 53 of sponge rubber is preferably interposed between the part I2 and the annulus 4| to seal the passage between these two aswell as dampen and smooth the vibration of the annulus. Since the unit I1 is readily removedand replaced, if the heating unit 46 happens to fail this is not more than temporary inconvenience sincel another unit may be readily attached. It is to be noted that the pin connections are-provided'upon the plan of an isosceles triangle and that accordingly the proper hookup can be readily made with the pins and the receptacles in the unit I1.

In the treatment of some portions of the' human body it might accidentally happen that contact would be made or the skin` of a patient would -be approached uncomfortably near the heating yunit 46. To prevent direct contact with said unit and to otherwise insure against this chance, I preferably interpose between said unit and thepatient a shield 54. 'I'his shield is made up withva number of apertures 56 therein so that heat can be readily radiated without decreasing materially the eciency of the unit and well avoiding the possibility of undesirable contact directly -with .the heating unit. In practice I have used sheet mica as well as wire screen for shield 54.

'I'he wall I9'in the part II forms a small chamber which is closed bythe backing member 2i'. This compartment serves as a receptacle for the switches 51, 58 and 59 respectively used to control low or high heating of the unit 46 and operation ofthe vibrating means. Thus switches 51,58 and respectively control current ow to the vibrator, coils 45 and 45A, each switch being in series with the element it-controls andiall the elements being in parallel with a current source.

It is to be noted thatthe handle I3 is hollow and that a long spring contact 6I is provided therein vwhich cooperates with a contact 62 carried by the part I I. A bar 63 is extended through the side of the handle I3 and upon inward move- 1 ment thereof moves the contact 6I to engage contact 62 and pass current through to the electro magnet and the .heating unit 46.. This simple structure provides a. suitable dead man switch so is positively operated. i

Means are provided for varying the rate of vibration of the vibrating structure. It is to be noted that the screw I8 is hollow and that in conjunction therewith an aperture extends through the central leg 23 of the electro magnet. Inside of this hollow is positioned a piece of soft rubber 1I which bears against the strip 26. This rubber is compressed or relieved of pressure by screw 12 secured to knob 13, the screw 12 being extended through the hollow screw I8 to engage the length of rubber 1I.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a reector, a heat source within the confines of said reector, an apertured member continuing beyond said reiiector and surrounding said reflector to maintain a surface placed against said member out of contact with said heat source and at a point of effective radiation for heat generated by said source and directed by said reflector directly onto said surface through said aperture in said member, and electromagnetic means for vibrating said reflector, said heat source and said member as a unit.

2-. In a device of the .character described, a

reflector, a heat and light source within the confines of said reector, an apertured member positioned across said reflector beyond said heat source, a member continuing beyond said reflector and surrounding said reflector to maintain a surface placed against said member out of contact with said apertured member and at a point of effective radiation for heat generated by said source and reected directly ,onto said surface through said aperture in said member, and electromagnetic meansfor vibrating said reflector, said heat source and said member as a'unit.

3. In a device of the character described, an apertured annular member to be placed against a surface, electromagnetic means for vibrating .said member, a reector secured to said member and substantially closing the aperture in said member. and a heat source within the confines of said reector and providing a source of infra red rays for direct reflection through said aperture onto said surfaceduring operation of said vibrating means.'

4. In a device of the vibrating unit comprising having three parallel but spaced poles, a coil wound on the middle pole. a spring ystrip member extended across said poles, means for securing said strip4 to each of the outerpoles, a magcharacter described, a a

Anetizable member carried by said strip and movable therewith,y an insulating member carried by said strip and movable therewith, and a of pins extending from saidi insulating member and a massage unit for mounting on/said spring strip and having receptacles to receive said pins, said massage unit including a member for placement against a surface, said member having an aperture therein. a concave reflector carried by said member and positioned acrossl said aperture, and a heat source cooperating with said reector and positioned to supply a source of heat for reiiectlon by said reflector through said aperture.

5. In a device of the character descrlbedan electromagnet including a magnetizable core having a passage therein, a spring strip member, `means for positioning said strip across said core, a magnetizabie member abutting said first mentioned member and movable therewith to provide f a vibrating structure, means for dampening vibration of .said structure including a resilient an electromagnet core member in said passage and screw means for urging said resilient member to engage said strip member, a massage unit, means for mounting said unit on said vibrating structure, said unit including a member for placement against a surface; said member having an aperture therein, a concave reector carried by said member and positioned across said aperture, and a heat source positioned to cooperate with said reflector in l0 radiating heat through said aperture.

6. In adevice oi the character described, an 

